Electromagnetic pulsed-wave system for oil manipulation

ABSTRACT

A method is described for controlling an oil spill by seeding micron-sized magnetizable particles in the oil. Once seeded, particles can form a unique and preferential bond with the oil resulting in creation of a colloidal mixture. This bond forms as a result of a combination of forces including the intermolecular Van der Waal forces. Once this bond is formed, the oil is rendered magnetic and can be controlled and moved in response to a magnetic field. This can include removing oil from water, reducing the diffusion rate of oil on water, magnetically lifting oil from water or nonporous surfaces, as well as separating the magnetic material from the oil.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/662,451, entitled “Magnetization Control and Transportationof Oil” which was filed on Jul. 28, 2017 and herein incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety. This patent application therefore claimsthe benefit of the above referenced patent application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the use of magnetic fields for themanipulation of oil. In particular, it relates to the seeding of oilwith magnetizable particles, magnetically removing oil from water,reducing the diffusion rate of oil on water, magnetically lifting oilfrom water and nonporous surfaces, as well as separating the magneticmaterial from the oil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fuels such as oil, petroleum, petrol, gasoline, crude oil, motor oil andother hydrogen and carbon based fuels are used extensively. These globaluses include powering factories, homes, automobiles, other vehicles, andequipment or machinery.

Given this ubiquity, there is a risk that oil may be spilled,mishandled, or otherwise inadvertently released into the environment soas to pollute or create a contamination hazard. Oftentimes, thesereleases result in the unwanted disposal of oil within an aqueousenvironment such as water, groundwater, rivers, lakes, oceans, or thelike.

Some known cleaning and removal approaches include chemically usingmicroorganisms or biological agents to breakdown or remove oil,controlled burning, the use of dispersants and dredging, skimming, andvacuum and centrifuge techniques. These known methods, however, aredifficult, expensive, and inefficient. This is particularly the casebecause oil can spread outwardly upon contacting water making itdifficult to control and transport.

With respect to chemical dispersants, chemicals are mixed into theenvironment to attempt to facilitate clean up. Introducing chemicals,however, has shown to have significant negative impacts on marine lifeand aqueous environment.

In a traditional boom and skimmer system the contaminated area can beisolated by the boom and a mechanical skimmer used to only remove oillocated at the surface of the water. This process is time consuming andinefficient. In addition, skimming is susceptible to waves, currents,debris, seaweed, kelp, and other water elements which can reduce skimmerefficiency.

Another known approach is the use of an electromagnetic boom and amagnetic field to collect spilled oil as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,795,519 and 9,249,549 and in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/947,201which are hereby incorporated by reference. These disclosures, however,fail to describe a magnetization method for controlling and moving oilat a micron level through seeding the oil with magnetizable particles ora pulsed-wave electromagnetic system.

Still another approach requires the use of particles sized on thenanometer scale (particles sized on the scale of 1×10⁻⁹ meters) forinteracting with oil. Nano-particles, however, bond with the oil throughatomic forces (e.g. ferrofluids), which makes the separation of thenano-particles from the oil difficult due to the nature of the bond andbecause the electrochemistry is different from particles sized on themicron scale (particles sized on the scale of 1×10⁻⁶ meters). Becausenano-particles are primarily held in an oil distribution matrix byatomic forces, the separation of the nano-particles from the oilrequires more drag force which increases the difficulty of separating,transporting, or otherwise controlling the oil using magnetic field.

Accordingly, a system and method is needed for using magnetization forcontrolling and transporting oil.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of magnetizable particles forcontrolling and moving oil in response to a magnetic field. Inparticular, the invention includes introducing magnetizable particlesfor seeding the oil. This can reduce the rate of oil diffusion thatoccurs in water and allows the oil to be magnetically manipulated,removing oil from water, lifting oil from water and nonporous surfaces,as well as separating the magnetizable particles from the oil.

Magnetizable particles such as magnetite, iron oxides, iron filings,ferrite dust filings, or any other similar type of particle can beintroduced into a system to help oil spill removal, collection, orcleanup efforts. This invention includes a seeding process thatpreferentially targets oil by seeding micron-sized magnetizableparticles in oil. When seeded in oil, the particles can form a uniqueand preferential bond with the oil resulting in creation of a colloidalmixture. This bond is a result of a combination of forces including Vander Waal forces. The Van der Waals force is a term used to define theattraction of intermolecular forces between molecules, in particularthose molecules sized on the micron scale. The particles preferentiallybond with the oil while bypassing any water that is not exposed to oil.Once the bond is formed, the oil is rendered magnetic and can becontrolled and moved in response to a magnetic field.

This seeding process also provides a method of probing for oil in watereven in situations where the oil is not visible to the naked eye. In oneembodiment, the particles can be introduced into a system containingwater that may also contain oil. If the particles contact oil, a bondwill form between the particles and the oil resulting in creation of thecolloidal mixture comprised of both the particles and the oil. Thiscreation of the colloidal mixture can be used to identify the presenceand location of the oil.

Oil on water will typically diffuse outward under its own viscous forcesuntil it reaches an equilibrium. This diffusion rate can be reduced,however, through the seeding process since each magnetic particle isessentially a small magnetic dipole which interacts with the internalmolecular network of forces and with each other, thus balancing orreducing diffusion forces. Once seeded, in the absence of externalforces, the parcel of oil is confined and can be controlled by magneticforces. By seeding the oil with the magnetic particles, the diffusionrate of the oil can be reduced or inhibited depending on the amount ofparticles dispersed.

The present invention also relates to the use of a magnetic field tocontrol and move the oil. Once the particles have bonded with the oil toform the colloidal mixture, magnetic fields can be used to control theoil in different ways. When the particles are dispersed in oil on wateror on any nonporous surface they are for the most part randomlydistributed. In the presence of an applied magnetic field, the particleswill generally align themselves with the direction of the magnetic fieldsince each particle is a small dipole magnet in the presence of anexternal magnetic field. In addition to aligning with the externalfield, the particles also attract one another. This directionalalignment adds rigidity to the colloidal mixture which enhances itsviscosity effects orthogonal to the direction of the induced field. Thisinduced viscosity effectively produces a rigidity (i.e. an increaseviscosity orthogonal to the magnetics field direction) that allowsgreater control over the colloidal mixture, e.g. allowing the colloidalmixture to be lifted from the water surface or from other surfaces.

Due to the nature of the size of the particles and the nature of thebond with the oil, magnetic forces also work at moving the colloidalmixture on water. The force on the colloidal mixture of oil andparticles is proportional to the gradient of the magnetic field. Due tothe low coefficient of friction on the water, the colloidal mixturemoves smoothly towards the magnet in the absence of any other externalforces, and the water becomes the medium for transporting the oil.

A magnetic field can also be used to separate the bonded particles fromthe oil. At the interface of the water with another surface, such assome type of barrier, the friction and surface tension forces differenough so that the particles can be magnetically extracted as they pileup at the boundary interface. A magnet can be used to lift the particlesfrom the water against this interface. The magnetic particles arestrongly attracted to the magnet and separate as the magnetic forcemoves them vertically upward against the barrier.

Consistent with the teachings of the present invention, a pulsed-waveelectromagnetic system may be used in conjunction with the methodsdescribed herein. In this embodiment, a pulsed-wave can be used tocreate a magnetic gradient for controlling and transporting an oil spillin a desired location and for extraction and removal from the system. Inthe presence of external forces such as those due to wave motion, thesystem can be aligned in the wave direction. This increases theefficiency by contributing constructively in the direction of the magnetforces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A a side view of magnetizable particles introduced into wateraccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is side view of magnetizable particles introduced into an oilspill in water according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a top view of oil diffusion in water according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a top view of the magnetizable particles interacting with oilaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates magnetizable particles randomly disposed at an oilspill according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B illustrates magnetizable particles that are disposed in generalalignment with a magnetic force at an oil spill according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4B illustrates a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4C illustrates a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4D illustrates a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5A is a side view of a system having magnetizable particlesdisposed at oil according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a side view of a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6A is a side view of a system having magnetizable particlesdisposed at oil according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a side view of a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7A illustrates a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7B illustrates a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7C illustrates a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7D illustrates a magnetic field being applied to magnetizableparticles disposed at oil according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a system having magnetizable particles disposedat oil and an interaction with a magnetic field according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an electromagnetic pulsed-wave system having aplurality of magnetic solenoids according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a graphical view of a waveform sequence associated with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a system for using an electromagneticpulsed-wave system for transportation of oil according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a system for magnetically removing oil according toone embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a system for magnetically removing oil according toone embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of the presently preferredembodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the onlyforms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. Thedescription sets forth the system, methods, and the sequence of stepsfor constructing and operating the invention in connection with theillustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the sameor equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by differentembodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spiritand scope of the invention.

This detailed description relates to an invention for seedingmagnetizable particles with oil. Once seeded, the oil becomessusceptible to a magnetic field that can be used for controlling ormoving oil. Various applications can include the identifying,separating, lifting, raising, or otherwise transporting of the oil.

The invention and processes described herein are generally controlled bythe Van der Waals force in the aqueous phase. As known in the art, theVan der Waals force is a term used to define the attraction ofintermolecular forces between molecules, and it is particularly relevantin molecules sized on the micro-scale (1×10⁶ meters). The Van der Waalsforce can provide short-range, electrostatic attractive forces betweenmolecules that arise from the interaction of permanent or transientelectric dipole moments.

When dispersed in oil, magnetizable particles can form a unique andpreferential bond with the oil. This bond is formed as result of acombination of forces including the intermolecular Van der Waal forcesassociated with the magnetizable particles and oil. If the oil isdispersed in water, the surface tension of the water may also assist informing the bond. As a result of this bond, a colloidal mixture iscreated that includes the particles and oil. Once the bond is formed,oil can be controlled and moved in response to a magnetic field. As usedherein, a colloidal mixture may be any type of mixture or combinationformed as a result of the interaction of the Van der Waals forcesbetween the magnetizable particles and oil.

Oil can be seeded with magnetizable particles in many differentenvironments. For example, the bonding may occur when oil is spilled ordiscovered in many different types of aqueous solutions associatedgroundwater, rivers, lakes, oceans, marshes, swamps. This can be saltwater, or fresh water environments. The seeding process can also beimplemented on oil trapped below the surface of the water and onnon-porous surfaces.

The magnetizable particles include iron oxides such as Fe₃O₄, Fe₂O₃, FeOas well as iron filings. However, magnetite (Fe₃O₄) is preferred becauseit is stable, does not oxidize (rust) and is natural to the environment.These magnetizable particles may also generally be sized on the micronscale (1×10⁶ meters) and preferably in the range of 2 μm-10 μm. In someapplications, the amount of magnetizable particles that are required canvary based on a number of factors including the amount of oil that ispresent, the environment, the applied magnetic field, or the type ofcontrol or movement of the oil that is desired.

Consistent with the teachings of this invention, as used herein, oil maybe many different types of hydrocarbons including petroleum, petrol,gasoline, crude oil, motor oil and any oil spill, other similarcompounds that are capable of bonding with the magnetizable particles.

A system 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B that includes magnetizedparticles 102 and oil 106 dispersed in water 104. In this example, theseeding process can help probe for the existence of oil even if itcannot be seen by the naked eye. As shown in FIG. 1B, the magnetizableparticles 102 are introduced to system 100. Once introduced, themagnetizable particles 102 will seed with the oil 106 they contact whilepassing through any water 104 that is not exposed to the oil 106. As aresult, a colloidal mixture 110 is formed and can be visually detected.

In contrast, the system 100 in FIG. 1A includes water 104 but no oil.When the magnetizable particles 102 are introduced, they will flowthrough the water 104 without any seeding and thereby indicate that nooil is present.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, when oil 206 is disposed in water 204, it willtypically diffuse outward under its own viscous forces until it reachesan equilibrium. As shown in FIG. 2A, an initial plume of oil 206 isdisposed in the water 204. Over time, the oil will spread outwardly 212as a result of diffusion and viscous forces 214. In cases such as an oilspill, this outward spread—if left uncontained—can cause significantpollution and contamination.

By seeding magnetizable particles 202 with the oil 206, however, thediffusion rate of the oil can be reduced. Referring to FIG. 2B,magnetizable particles 202 are introduced into the system 200 to containthe spread of the oil 206. The magnetizable particles 202 bond with theoil 206 and introduce new forces 216 into the system 200. These newforces 216 include the Van der Waals forces associated with the bondbetween the magnetizable particles 202 and the oil 206 as well as theindividual internal forces associated with each of the magnetizableparticles 202. The distribution of these forces 216 can oppose thediffusion and viscous forces 214 resulting in a reduction of the rate ofoil spread. Eventually, the oil spread will stop once the system forcesreach equilibrium.

An additional amount of magnetizable particles 202 may be introduced tothe system 200 to add additional force. In one example, the ratiobetween the amount of magnetizable particles 202 that are introducedinto the system 200 relative to the amount of oil 206, could be suchthat the amount of the oil 206 does not introduce more diffusion andviscous drive force than the forces exerted as a result of theintroduction of the magnetizable particles 202.

Once seeded, the particles may be generally dispersed on the oil in arandom distribution. A magnetic field can be used to align themagnetizable particles in a rigid configuration as shown in FIGS. 3A and3B. Referring to FIG. 3A, the magnetizable particles 302 are randomlyseeded throughout the oil 306. Generally, this less structured andrandomized configuration is weaker and makes it more difficult tocontrol or move the oil 306. As shown in FIG. 3B, however, a magnet 316applies a magnetic force to the particles 302. Each particle 302includes an internal dipole magnet. Accordingly, when the magnetic forceis applied to the particles 302, they move from the random distributionto an orientation that is generally aligned in the direction of themagnetic field. This results in a stronger configuration that permitsincreased control over the magnetizable particles 302, oil 306, and thecolloidal mixture 310.

A magnetic field can also be used to move the oil in a general directionas illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D. The system 400 includes magnetizableparticles 402 and an oil plume 406 that is dispersed in water 404. Aresulting colloidal mixture 410 is formed as a result of the bond formedby the seeding of the magnetizable particles 402 with the oil 406. Inthis example, a magnet 416 exerts a force creating a magnetic fieldgradient 414 within the system 400. Accordingly, the strength of themagnetic force as applied to the colloidal mixture 410 changes based ondistance from the magnet 416. Generally, the magnetic force applied onthe colloidal mixture 410 is proportional to the magnetic fieldgradient.

In this example, water serves as the medium for transporting the oil.Given the low coefficient of friction on the water, the colloidalmixture 410 can move smoothly towards the magnet 416. Also, due to thenature of the size of the particles 402 and the nature of the bond withthe oil 406 formed by the Van der Waals force, magnetic fields generallywork well at moving the colloidal mixture 410 on water.

Referring to FIG. 4A, magnetizable particles 402 have bonded with oil406 to form the colloidal mixture 410 in water 404. In FIG. 4B, a lowmagnetic force begins to attract the colloidal mixture 410 in thedirection of the magnet 416. As shown in FIG. 4C, the colloidal mixture410 continues to move toward the magnet 416 as the magnetic forcebecomes stronger.

Still referring to FIG. 4C, the stronger magnetic force causes thebonded magnetizable particles 402 to move relative and toward the distalend of the oil plume 406. While the magnetizable particles 402 are notuniformly distributed about the oil plume 406, the bond continues toexist between the magnetizable particles 402 and the oil 406. Inaddition, the internal and strong elemental bonds between the individualoil molecules are not broken. Accordingly, and referring to FIG. 4D, themagnetic particles 402 and the oil plume 406 are transported to thedesired location.

A magnetic field can be used to lift oil from a surface as shown inFIGS. 5A-5B, 6A-6B, and 8. Referring to FIGS. 5A-5B, a system 500includes magnetizable particles 502 that are bonded with oil 506. Theresulting colloidal mixture 510 is disposed on water 504. In thisexample, a magnet 516 exerts a magnetic force 514 that lifts thecolloidal mixture 510 away from the water 504 and toward the magnet 516.In water, both the magnetic force 514 and water surface tension forcefacilitates the lifting of the colloidal mixture 510. The amount ofmagnetizable particles 502 needed for the lifting application depends onmany factors such as the amount of oil, the strength of the magneticforce, and other environmental conditions. In one example, this amountshould be enough to provide an attractive force with respect to themagnetic field, and coupled with the water surface tension force, thatis greater than the other opposing forces. Application of thisembodiment of the invention can occur in many different ways includingfor the removal of oil from contaminated groundwater, lakes, oceans,rivers and the like. Similarly, this embodiment can also apply to otherpossibly more dense porous landscapes such as marshes, swamps, and bogswhere additional forces may exist.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system 800 for removing a colloidal mixture 810from water 804. A magnet 816 creates a magnetic field 814 for attractingthe colloidal mixture 810. In this example, the magnet 816 is disposedat the water 804 in an inclined configuration. Accordingly, the magneticfield 814 can be applied to move the colloidal mixture 810 up theinclined configuration for removal from the system 800. As a result ofthe angle of inclination and the non-absorbent nature of the materialsused, the system does not collect water and is more efficient atcollecting oil than existing methods.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a system 600 is shown that includes anonporous surface 618, System 600 includes a magnet 616 that exerts amagnetic force 614 for raising a colloidal mixture 610 from a nonporoussurface 618. A nonporous surface 618 may include any fields, grass,dirt, concrete or other ground surface. With respect to nonporoussurfaces, however, additional force may be needed to lift the colloidalmixture 610 as the water surface tension force may not exist. This canbe achieved by using a stronger magnetic force or by adding moremagnetizable particles 602 to the system 600.

As discussed above, a magnetic field can be used to move magneticparticles from a random distribution to an orientation that is generallyaligned in the direction of the magnetic field. This can also facilitatethe lifting of the colloidal mixtures 510, 610 that is described inFIGS. 5A-5B and 6A-6B. This directional alignment of the magneticparticles 502, 602 adds rigidity to the colloidal mixture 510, 610 whichenhances its viscosity effects orthogonal to the direction of theinduced field. This induced viscosity effectively produces the rigiditythat helps the colloidal mixture 510, 610 to be lifted from water orfrom other surfaces.

It may also be useful to separate the particles from the colloidalmixture once the oil has been moved to a safe and desired location. Theremoved particles can then be recycled and reused. As illustrated inFIGS. 7A-7D, a magnet 716 is used to separate the bonded magnetizableparticles 702 from the oil 706. An interface exists between the waterand a separation barrier 720. In this instance, the separation barrier720 is a vertical column disposed between the magnet 716 and thecolloidal mixture 710, but it can be any type of object that providesthe friction capable of separating the magnetizable particles from oil.At this interface, the friction and surface tension forces differ enoughto extract the particles 702 as they pile up at the boundary interfacebetween the magnet 716 and the water 704. The particles 702 are stronglyattracted to the magnet 716 and can be separated from the oil 706 as themagnetic field moves them vertically upward against the separationbarrier 720. This principle may also be used to separate the particlesfrom oil in the absence of water.

A electromagnetic pulsed-wave system 900 is illustrated in FIGS. 9-11.This system 900 provides a pulsed-wave for moving oil that has beendispersed in water to a desired location. As described above, themagnetizable particles are introduced into the system 900 to bond withoil and form a colloidal mixture 910. The system 900 includes a group ofelectrically coupled solenoid magnets that are configured to generate atime-varying magnetic gradient pulse that travels axially in the flowdirection 924. In this example, solenoid magnets 927, 929, 931, 933,935, 937, 939, 941, and 943 are described, but any number of solenoidmagnetics may be used.

In this example, each of the solenoid magnets are linearly connected andexert a magnetic field that is capable of attracting the colloidalmixture 910 and then moving it along a desired path in the flowdirection 924. In particular, the magnetic field produced from eachsolenoid can attract the colloidal mixture as represented by attractionflow paths 926. Each solenoid is also capable of transporting thecolloidal mixture along direction of the magnetic force.

In this example, each solenoid is separated by approximately 0.79 timesthe radius “R” of the solenoid coils. This spatial configurationprovides gradient coupling between the coils because it is less than theknown “Helmholtz spacing” for coils. In operation, a magnetic gradientalso exists between each of the solenoids as the associated magneticfield varies as it moves further away from the solenoid.

The parameters for the electromagnetic pulsed-wave system 900 are basedon a stepped multiphase concept. The number of phases for the system 900can be based on parameters such as power consumption, flow efficiency,magnetic field strength, timing and the spacing of the associatedmagnets or solenoids. This can also include the geometric factorsassociated with the magnets themselves. Ideally, the parametersidentified above would be optimized so as to accommodate themagneto-fluid dynamics associate with oil flow on water.

An electromagnetic pulsed-wave can be generated by many different wavesequences. In this example, a 4-phase sequence is used to generate theelectromagnetic pulsed-wave and magnetic gradient in the desired flowdirection 924. Referring to FIG. 9, first phase solenoids 927 and 935are paired to generate an electromagnetic pulses 928 and 945 at the sametime. Similarly, second phase solenoids 929 and 937 are paired togenerate an electromagnetic pulse 930, 936 at a later time offset fromthat of the first phase solenoids 927, 935. Third phase solenoids 931and 939 generate an electromagnetic pulse 932, 938 at a time offset fromthe second phase solenoids 931, 939. And fourth phase solenoids 933 and941 generate an electromagnetic pulse 934, 940 at a time offset from thethird phase solenoids 931, 939. This configuration results in thepropagation of an electromagnetic pulsed-wave capable of moving thecolloidal mixture in the flow direction 924.

Referring to FIG. 10, an electromagnetic pulsed-wave can be generated bypowering the solenoid magnets on and off in cycles so as to produce achain of magnetic dipole fields that move from one end of a string ofsolenoid magnets to the other. FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic plot ofcurrent versus time for different time intervals for phases associatedwith the first 927, 935, second 929, 936, third 931, 939, and fourth933, 939 solenoid magnets as identified in FIG. 9.

These operational states can be governed by the following 4 variables:

-   -   1) T_(ramp)—the time it takes for magnet to turn on or off    -   2) T_(peak)—the time when the solenoid is at its peak    -   3) T_(off)—the time between pulses    -   4) T_(delay)—the time between the start of a magnet's power        cycle and the start of the next magnet's power cycle

Accordingly, T_(on) is determined as T_(on)=T_(ramp)+T_(peak)+T_(ramp).

T_(period) is determined as T_(period=)T_(on)+T_(off).

In order to produce a chain of magnetic dipole fields that move from oneend of a string of magnets to the other, T_(delay) should divide evenlyinto T_(period). The optimum separation between the dipole fields occurswhen T_(on)=T_(off).

Referring to FIG. 11, the pulse-wave system 900 includes anelectromagnetic boom system 942 and a depository 944. Theelectromagnetic boom system 942 includes the plurality of solenoidmagnets, as described above, that are capable of providing anelectromagnetic pulsed-wave. Each of solenoids provides a magnetic forcefor attracting and transporting the colloidal mixture 910 in a flowdirection 946. The rate at which the colloidal mixture 910 moves in theflow direction 946 is proportional to the magnetic field gradient andviscosity of the spilled oil.

The colloidal mixture 910 can move along the electromagnetic boom 942until it reaches the depository 944. Referring to FIGS. 12-13, adepository 944 includes an electromagnetic skimmer 950 that is used toremove the colloidal mixture 910 from water 904. The electromagneticskimmer 950 can be generally disposed in an upward and inclinedconfiguration and magnetically coupled to the electromagnetic boom 942such that the colloidal mixture 910 can be transferred. The skimmer 950also includes an electric dipole magnet 955 disposed proximate to theinterface of the electromagnetic boom 942 and skimmer 950 so as tofacilitate transfer of the colloidal mixture 910.

The electromagnetic skimmer 950 also includes a rotating outer belt 952and a rotating permanent magnet belt 954. Both belts 952 and 954 canrotate continuously about the electromagnetic skimmer 950 and can beconfigured to move at different relative speeds. The electric dipolemagnet 955 assists in magnetically removing the oil 906 from the system900 to the rotating outer belt 952. In this example, the rotating outerbelt 952 is magnetically coupled with the electromagnet boom 942 so asto receive the oil 906 from the water 904. This permits the rotatingouter belt 952 to carry the oil upward toward a separator section 956.The rotating permanent magnet belt 954 includes a plurality of magnets958 that are located interior to the rotating outer belt 952. Thesemagnets 958 can apply a magnetic force to facilitate control andattraction of the oil disposed on the outer rotating belt 952. Since thespeed of the rotating permanent magnet belt 954 can be adjusted, themagnetic force created by the magnets 958 can vary in direction andscope.

The electromagnetic skimmer 950 also forms a separator container 956where the colloidal mixture can exit to the separation container 948.The separator section 956 is positioned within the electromagneticskimmer 950 so as to be affected by little to generally no magneticforce. When the carried colloidal mixture 910 reaches the separationsection 956, it is able to exit the separation container 948 under theforce of gravity. As shown in FIG. 13, the separation container 948 isfilled with water 959 and includes a magnet 960 disposed toward itsbottom section. Once the colloidal mixture 910 enters the separationcontainer 948, the magnet 960 is configured to provide a strong enoughmagnetic field to attract the magnetizable particles 902 toward thebottom of the container 948 while the oil 906 remains in the water 959at a top portion of the container. This separation permits themagnetizable particles 902 to be recycled and reused.

It is understood that the exemplary system and method described hereinand shown in the drawings represent only presently preferred embodimentsof the invention. Various modifications and additions may be made tosuch embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electromagnetic skimmer for removing acolloidal mixture from water, comprising: a central body having aproximal end portion disposed at the water and extending at an upwardlyinclined angle away from the water to a distal end portion; an electricdipole magnet disposed at the proximal end portion for magneticallyremoving the colloidal mixture from the water; a rotating outer beltdisposed about the central body, extending from the proximal end portionto the distal end portion and for carrying the colloidal mixture towardthe distal end portion; and a magnetic belt disposed interior of therotating outer belt and extending from the proximal end portion to thedistal end portion, the magnetic belt having a plurality of magnetsdisposed thereon; wherein the magnetic belt is driven independently ofthe rotating outer belt such that the relative speeds of the magneticbelt and rotating outer belt can be variably adjusted to create amagnetic force of variable direction and magnitude.
 2. Theelectromagnetic skimmer of claim 1 wherein the rotating outer belt andthe magnetic belt are configured to move at different relative speeds.3. The electromagnetic skimmer of claim 1 wherein the magnetic belt isadapted for exerting a magnetic force on the colloidal mixture.
 4. Theelectromagnetic skimmer of claim 1 further comprising a separatorsection disposed at the distal end portion and substantially free frommagnetic force.
 5. The electromagnetic skimmer of claim 4 wherein thecolloidal mixture is removed from the electromagnetic skimmer at theseparator section.